Chemical Irritants
Chemical irritants inside the home include:
- air fresheners
- cleaners
- cosmetics (especially nail polish and perfumes)
- paints
- scented candles
Exposure to these chemicals can persist long after the chemical is used.
Health Effects
Chemical irritants can trigger asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals. In addition, even in non-asthmatic individuals, breathing in these kinds of chemicals is unhealthy. Any steps you take to reduce the amount of chemical irritants in your home will make your home healthier.
Links
- American Lung Association, Asthma web page
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Asthma web page
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Asthma Triggers: Gain Control web page
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Consumers-Best Burn Practices web page
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) web page
- National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Asthma web page
Printable Resources
![UNC CEHS Environmental Asthma Triggers: Indoor Air Quality Factsheet English](https://nchealthyhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6517/2021/06/EnvAsthma-FactSheet_Indoor-Air-Quality_final-300x232.jpg)
![UNC CEHS Environmental Asthma Triggers: Indoor Air Quality Factsheet Spanish](https://nchealthyhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6517/2022/08/EnvAsthma-FactSheet1.Indoor-Air-Quality-Spanish-300x233.png)